Posts Tagged ‘BCS Title’

The three-step drop, a quick release and big yardage through the air all come to mind when thinking of the prototypical NFL quarterback. If you’re a Tim Tebow follower these are misconceptions.

After appearing in less than a season’s worth of games, Tim Tebow has built himself sort of a cult following, no pun intended. In true Tebow fashion, he has attracted these followers in an unconventional way. Tebow is a rare “good guy” in football and simply wins games.

The Tebow legend grew from high school and while playing at the University of Florida, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2008 and led his team to two BCS National Championships (07’ and 09’). However, all the renown from college couldn’t earn Tebow the respect of pro scouts. Considered to be one of the best college players ever, Tebow didn’t garner the attention of other QB prospects.

…And with the 25th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos were willing to take a chance on Tebow. “NFL defenders will have a field day against Tim Tebow, he’ll be a bust.” Tebow and Denver heard it all and are now proving the naysayers wrong.

Tim Tebow is 7-1 as a starting QB and the Broncos’ 8-5 record is good enough for 1st in the AFC West. The Broncos’ success however cannot be wholly attributed to Tebow. Elvis Dumerville and Von Miller, who is 7th in the NFL with 11.5 sacks, provide a consistent pass rush for the secondary with the timeless Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey, in their 16th and 13th seasons, respectively. On the ground, Willis McGahee is approaching another 1,000 yard season.

Head Coach John Fox is also due credit. He put Tebow in for the struggling Kyle Orton in week 5 against San Diego. Tebow’s 16-point comeback against the Chargers would come up short, but would be a sign of things to come. After a week 6 bye, Tebow was named Denver’s starting QB. With Tebow at the helm, Denver is the only NFL team running a read-option—and it’s working. Since week 7, Tebow is 7-1 as a starter and has 5 fourth quarter comebacks in this current six-game win streak. The team, fans and team execs are buying into Tebow and rallying around him.

Now that Tebow is winning do the Jaguars regret not taking him with the 10th pick in the 2010 draft? Has he played up to being worth that 10th pick? Tebow, a Florida product, would’ve injected much needed life into the dying Jaguars franchise, which is always at the top of the list of teams to move to LA. Would embracing Tebow on offense work the same in Jacksonville? Could they run a read option? The offense would benefit from having the NFL’s leading rusher in Maurice Jones-Drew (1,222 yds, 7 TDs).

That’s all too hypothetical for now but back to reality. At 8-5 Denver leads the AFC West and is on track to win the division for the first time since 2005. With a solid defense, the NFL’s top ranked rushing offense and the unassailable Tim Tebow spearheading the offense, who’s to say Denver isn’t capable of a playoff run?

Either way you look at him, he gives every game his all. Even if you’re not a fan, he is good for the NFL. He’s a rare good character guy who is bringing new fans and stirring up interest for the NFL. The league likes this and so do fans that enjoy seeing the game evolve. He inspires those around him and his team doesn’t care if they’re winning in a non-traditional way. To sum it up, the Broncos keep games close and Tebow wins in crunch time. Along the way, the Broncos and Tebow will continue to silence critics…like Darrelle Revis.

Tebow and the Broncos in the playoffs are only a fantasy for now. In the meantime, many questions will arise: will opposing teams figure out Denver’s read option, is Tebow a long term solution and could the Broncos really bring the Lombardi trophy back to Denver? But with Tebow, as the University of Florida, Denver Broncos and coach John Fox have shown, it doesn’t hurt to have a little faith.